Impact of Vaccine Hesitancy on Public Health

Introduction

Vaccination, despite being considered one of the most efficient primary public health measures, is viewed as unsafe and unnecessary by an increasing number of individuals. Anxiety and concerns about vaccines and vaccination programs leading to vaccine hesitancy result from a complex mixture of social and political influences, cultural and religious beliefs, the availability and ability to create health and scientific information, personal and population health system experiences, and government policies. Vaccine hesitancy is becoming a serious threat to vaccination programs, and it was declared one of the World Health Organization’s top ten global health threats in 2019. Amongst these, the negative impact of anti-vaccination movements is one of the major causes for an increase in vaccine hesitancy surrounding the general public globally.

What Is Vaccine Hesitancy?

Vaccine hesitancy can be summarized as the delay in the acceptance or refusal of vaccines by people despite the availability of vaccines from different services. Vaccine hesitancy is a complex and context-specific area that varies across time, place, and different vaccines. It is influenced by factors like complacency, convenience, and confidence. These factors are explained below:

1. Vaccine Complacency

• The perceived risk of vaccine-preventable disease is low.

• Vaccination is not deemed a necessary preventive action.

2. Vaccine Convenience

• Physical availability of vaccines.

• Affordability and willingness to pay for vaccination.

• Geographical accessibility of vaccines.

• Ability to understand the concept of language and health literacy and the purpose of vaccination.

• The appeal of immunization service to the community.

3. Vaccine Confidence

• The effectiveness and safety of vaccination.

• The trust in the system that delivers vaccines, including the reliability and competence of the health services and health professionals.

• The motivations of the policymakers who decide on the needed vaccines.

What Are the Determinants of Vaccine Hesitancy?

The determinants of vaccine hesitancy are as follows:

1. Contextual Influences:

• Level of Income - A high level of income or socioeconomic status was demonstrated as a determinant affecting vaccine acceptance in several studies. Other studies also demonstrated that high household income is a factor in vaccine acceptance.

• Level of Education - High level of education of participants enrolled in studies is considered one of the determinants for vaccine acceptance. Studies demonstrated that a high level of education is a factor in vaccine acceptance.

• Communication and Media Environment - Exposure to negative media information is a factor in vaccine hesitancy. Also, having heard about adverse reactions following vaccination from the media is also a factor for vaccine hesitancy.

2. Individual or Social Group Influence:

• Beliefs, Attitudes, and Motivation Around Health - Perceived benefits of vaccination and belief in the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine are one of the most important determinants of vaccine acceptance. The availability of vaccines and commitment by health facility leaders also plays a role. Also, a positive attitude towards vaccination and cause to action, such as recommendations from a physician or others with personal influence, promote vaccine hesitancy.

• Vaccine Refusal - A lack of confidence in vaccine effectiveness, higher prevalence of physical comorbidities, perceived thought of not having a risk of contracting diseases, bad experiences from previous vaccinations, and strong conspiracy beliefs are the major reasons for vaccine hesitancy or refusal

3. Vaccine-Specific Issues:

• Costs - Higher cost of vaccines is generally observed as a determinant of vaccine hesitancy.

• Safety - Concerns regarding the safety and side effects of vaccines are the most important determinants of vaccine hesitancy.

• Awareness - Lack of information regarding vaccination and difficulty in obtaining trusted information.

What Is the Impact of Vaccine Hesitancy on Public Health?

Vaccine hesitancy has always been a concerning matter, but it has become increasingly prevalent, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous pieces of research have shown that parents who reported hesitancy to other types of general childhood vaccines or influenza vaccines were also less likely to vaccinate their child against the COVID-19 vaccine. A phone survey conducted revealed that in May 2022, 33 percent of parents reported that they would not give their children the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine hesitancy as it relates to childhood vaccines has also been linked to remarkable outbreaks. Hence, it is a public health priority to increase trust in vaccines. Vaccine hesitancy is a threat to the historical advances made in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, which have plagued humankind for generations.

How to Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy?

There are various factors, including beliefs, disbeliefs, social media, government policies, etc., influence vaccine hesitancy, and those can be handled by adopting the following methods:

• Healthcare professionals are known to be influential in shaping the acceptance of vaccines for infants, children, adolescents, and adults. When healthcare professionals communicate properly with parents about the benefits of vaccines as well as their risks, the value and need for vaccinations and vaccine safety, parents ultimately feel more confident in their decisions.

• The depth to which vaccine-critical discourses impact vaccination attitudes and behaviors among the general population is an important yet complex area that needs to be fully assessed with the help of approved tools that can identify the patterns of vaccine acceptance as well as hesitancy among individuals, subgroups, and populations. Obtaining these data can help the government differentiate between refusers from the hesitant and also between passive and active acceptors.

• The role of social media and news platforms also plays a major role in influencing both the acceptance and hesitancy of vaccines from the general public. It is important to relay factual evidence and correct information without being influenced by political parties or personal propaganda.

• The lack of awareness and knowledge about the vaccine can also hinder vaccine acceptance. It is necessary that the general public receives information on all the aspects of any vaccine and quantify the benefits and risks themselves.

• Another factor is dealing with vaccine critics. Vaccine controversies are largely popular in traditional media like newspapers, magazines, and television, and they have a tremendous impact on vaccine uptake by the general public. Celebrities or political party leaders, or public figures that publicly criticize vaccines create a deep impact on their fans’ views about the vaccination. It is important to understand that there can be people who actively criticize vaccines in public as they are motivated by profit, including selling alternatives to vaccines or other health products that fit into an alternative lifestyle or because of any other personal propaganda. Spreading information about these people is also important.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that vaccine hesitancy is impacting the health of the general population. Several controversies revolve around vaccines, both for their benefits and risks. It is crucial to address all the issues and deliver a strategy to tackle all the obstacles for better-generalized immunity and the welfare of society.